As we get closer to the coming of Jesus, we need to seek the Holy Spirit. We need Jesus, His Blood, His Redemption and His Forgiveness. We need to walk humbly with Jesus. There is a great need for us to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is not a privilege. Prayer is an absolute necessity in this life. We need prayer to make it to heaven. How serious are we about getting to heaven? Do you know very many people that say they don’t want to go to heaven?
In New York City, people were interviewed out on the street and asked the question: “Do you want to go to heaven?” When the survey was done not one person said they don’t want to go to heaven. Are we willing to do what is necessary to be there? That is where the reality of our Christian life is revealed.
Jesus is interceding right now in the Most Holy Place. He is interceding right now for people. He is doing ministry on your behalf and my behalf. He is filled with passionate love for you. He loves all mankind. Are we willing to have that kind of love for Jesus? Are we willing to open up and walk with Jesus?
Are we deliberate in seeking Jesus to walk with Him everyday? Jesus understands how hard it is to live in this world. We are here struggling and Jesus is watching what goes on here. Jesus walked on this earth, interacted with people on this earth and ministered to people here. He reached out to the downtrodden and lower classes and healed the sick.
Jesus was tempted here and overcame. The same way He overcame is available for us. He left His Word in the Bible for us to follow. Jesus has the solution to life’s challenges. He has the power and he wants to give it to us so that we can be winners.
John 16:7-10
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more.
General MacArthur stood on the beach in the Philippines during World War II and said to the people: “I will return”. Jesus gave us what we need to be saved and He is coming back to get those that believe in Him.
Daniel 1:8-12
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Daniel made a deliberate choice to not defile himself. He did not take the King’s wine or meats. Daniel was convicted by the Holy Spirit.
John 5:32
There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.
When the Holy Spirit witnesses us, does He see a true follower of Christ? If there is something going on in our lives that makes us feel uncomfortable, the reason is the Holy Spirit is convicting us every day. He is pleading with us.
There are many Christians today without Joy in their lives? Why is there no Joy in the Christian life? When the convicting power of the Holy Spirit comes, Jesus says He will convict people of sin. Our society doesn’t like being convicted of sin. The devil is waiting to say Jesus is unfair. Jesus wants to save all. He doesn’t want one person to be lost. There are people out in the world saying hell is created for people. Hell is created so the devil and his evil angels can be destroyed at the second coming of Christ.
People will not be in heaven if they reject over and over again the spirit of God. God is patient however accepting the Holy Spirit is very important for people because we never know when we will die.
Pastor Korter visited a man who had not been in church for a few months. The man said the reason he has not been in church is he is looking for people that are genuine in their Christian life. That hurts. People are looking for genuine Christianity. People that are full of Christ’ love is what people are seeking.
God is doing something here in Whatcom County. If you will be willing to give in to the Lord Jesus, you will have a peace and comfort and love that is unimaginable. Are we willing to sacrifice for Jesus? Lay down our personal interests and be involved in the ministry of this church reaching out to the local community is what Jesus is asking us. Jesus said seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and all of our other desires will be fulfilled.
When the Holy Spirit genuinely comes in, we will be willing to sacrifice for Jesus. Turn to Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
When we sacrifice to the Lord and do the work of ministry for Him, he will bless us. There are people who need the Lord Jesus. The first place to start is your own life. Say Lord, I need Jesus, I am helpless without Him. Great things are happening here in Whatcom County. Don’t fight the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Korter heard about a group of 36 children trapped in a classroom that was on fire in Chicago. Flames and smoke had filled the stairway and 36 little faces were glued to the windows. Mark Spencer who lived 2 blocks down the street came running to the school and he shouted to the children: “Break the windows and jump out”. He called to them: “Jump and I will catch you”. He had 35 children jump out into his arms except Mike.
Mike turned and looked at the flames. All of the children were yelling: “Jump Mike!” Mark Spencer yelled: “Jump son!” All of the children were saved except little Mike because Mike would not jump. Mark Spencer was there yelling at his son to jump into his safe and loving arms, and Mike would not jump. The fire department found Mike’s burned body the next morning.
Jesus is pleading with us to jump into his arms. He wants to take us and comfort and protect us. If you will jump into the arms of Jesus, you will make it to the city of God. There are many people here this morning from different backgrounds. There are lost people that need to jump into the arms of Jesus.
If you are willing to partner with the Lord and be convicted by His Holy Spirit, would you please stand.
This sermon was preached at Bellingham, Washington Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sabbath 3 September 2011.